UPDATE: Looting has erupted in flood-stricken Sumatra as residents scramble for food and water amid devastating conditions. Authorities confirmed that the floods, which struck nearly a week ago, have claimed at least 303 lives, with the death toll expected to rise as recovery efforts continue.
Videos surfacing on social media show desperate residents navigating waist-deep floodwaters to reach convenience stores, as they seek essential supplies. The floodwaters have created chaos, damaging roads, triggering landslides, and severing communication lines across affected regions, particularly in the city of Sibolga and Central Tapanuli district.
According to North Sumatra Police spokesperson Ferry Walintukan, reports of looting began on Saturday evening. “The looting happened before logistical aid arrived,” Walintukan stated. “Residents were concerned they would starve.”
With aid slow to arrive, the situation has escalated. Ongoing bad weather conditions are impeding rescue operations, complicating the delivery of much-needed supplies. The Indonesian government has deployed 11 helicopters from Jakarta to assist in logistics distribution, targeting the most severely affected areas. Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya emphasized that unpredictable weather often hampers these efforts.
In a desperate plea for help, survivors in North Tapanuli were seen waving frantically to helicopters as they distributed aid. Meanwhile, four navy ships have docked at a local port to support ongoing aid operations.
Indonesia, home to over 280 million people, is no stranger to natural disasters, often facing earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and seasonal floods. The current flooding crisis underscores the urgent need for a robust disaster response framework in the region.
As residents face increasing desperation, the world watches closely. The human toll of this disaster continues to mount, and the immediate future remains uncertain. Further updates will follow as aid efforts progress.
